Spring construction



March 28, 1967 H. CROSBY 3,311,366

SFRING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 23, 1964 INVENTOR.

1T awZO/Z/H 005129, BY

United States Patent 3,311,366 SPRING CGNSTRUCTIGN Lawton H. Crosby, Lake Bluff, Ill., assignoito Morley Furniture Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of lliinois Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. N 413,248 4 Claims. (Cl. 267-102) This invention relates in general to a spring arrangement for furniture seat construction and the like. It deals more particularly with a spring arrangement of the sinuous spring band type.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved spring arrangement of the sinuous spring band t e.

lt is another object to provide a sinuous spring arrangement which simply and inexpensively produces a comfort level and other luxury features heretofore considered attainable only with coil spring constructions, or with the addition of expensive external devices to sinuous springs.

It is still another object to provide a sinuous spring arrangement which affords greatly increased comfort over presently known sinuous spring arrangements of a broadly similar nature.

It is yet another object to provide a spring arrangement which provides a luxurious, expensive ride in a relatively inexpensive construction.

It is a further object to provide a sinuous spring arrangement which affords superior resilience while a person is seated and upward thrust when a person arises from a furniture seat incorporating the spring arrangement.

It is yet a further object to provide a sinuous spr ng arrangement which lends an improved appearance to slimline furniture.

It is still a further object to provide a modified sinuous spring arrangement of the aforedescribed character which affords additional resilience and upward thrust. I

It is another object to provide a modified spring arrangement which conforms more perfectly to all cush on configurations and virtually eliminates cushion gap without fillers of any kind.

The foregoing and other objects are realiaed in accord with the present invention by providing a sinuous spring arrangement which incorporates a dynamic interplay of torque forces in the spring band. These torque forces include a downwardly directed torque in the band adjacent the rear end thereof and an upwardly directed torque in the band at a predetermined distance into the body of the band from the front end thereof. The in terplay of these torque forces produces a spectacular resilience while a person is seated and a heretofore unattainable quality of upward thrust as the person arises. Furthermore, the torque inducing means associated with the front end of the spring band introduces a highly desirable front edge softness and rearwardly inclined profile in slim-line furniture, for example.

In one aspect of the present invention, the profile of the spring band is modified to define a relatively slight are over its front and mid-portion, with a greater are at the rear. This is accomplished by introducing a downward bend in the band of the front end thereof coincidental with the aforementioned torque inducing means.

The invention, both as to its organization and the method of operation, taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a portion of a furniture spring assembly illustrating a first form of the spring arrangement embodying features of the present invention, with parts broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1, with parts broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the front end of the furniture spring assembly as illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the rear end of a modified spring arrangement embodying features of the first form of the present invention as illustrated in FIGURES 1-3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the rear end of another modified spring arrangement embodying features of the first form of the present invention as illustrated in FIGURES 1-3;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a portion of a furniture spring assembly, broadly similar to FIGURE 1, illustrating a second form of spring arrangement embodying features of the present invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view into the spring arrangement in FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, a portion of a furniture spring assembly is illustrated generally at 1%. The furniture spring assembly 14 comprises a series of sinuous spring arrangements 11 (only one of which is shown) embodying features of a first form of the present invention, mounted in a frame 12. The frame 12 includes a pair of side rails 15 (only one of which is shown), a front rail 16, and a back rail 17. The rails 15, 16, and 17 are fabricated of wood and joined together by suitable means in a conventional manner.

Each sinuous spring band arrangement 11 includes a sinuous spring band 29 secured to the front rail 16 by a fastening clip 21 and to the back rail 17 by another fastening clip 22. The band 2% is modified adjacent the front rail 16 to provide a substantially integral front torque-inducing arrangement 25 which is designed to exert torque in the body of the band 29 at a substantial distance from the rail 16. The band Ztl is further modified adjacent the back rail 17 to provide a substantially integral rear torque-inducing arrangement 26 which exerts a downward torque in the band 20 adjacent the back rail 17.

The dynamic interplay of the aforedescribed torque forces when a person is seated, produces a center resilience heretofore unrealized with sinuous spring seating arrangements. It additionally produces a spectacular upward thrust following and assisting the removal of a seated person from the furniture seat or the like. Furthermore, the front torque-inducing arrangement 25 is so conformed that it assures a softened support underneath the knees of a person adjacent the front rail 16 of the furniture and also a highly desirably rearwardly inclined profile for the furniture seat itself.

Broadly similar results'are obtained with a second form of spring arrangement 111 embodying features of the present invention and illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. The spring arrangement 111 differs in construction from the spring arrangement 111 hereinbefore referred to in that it affords added resilience and upward thrust while especially accommodating even over-stuffed cushions without unsightly cushion gap. Further, the spring arrangement 111 differs in the manner in which torque is exerted in the spring band 2% adjacent the back rail 17 of the frame 12. The construction and operation of the spring arrangement 111 will be discussed in detail following a complete explication of the spring arrangement 11 embodying the first form of the present invention.

Referring again to FIGURES 1-3, it will be seen that the spring band 20 in the spring arrangement 11 embodying a first form of the present invention comprises a series of linear segments 39 interconnected by alternating (on opposite sides) semi-circular segments 31. The spring band is of the arced type and, accordingly, assumes a generally circular profile when in relaxed or normal relationship out of the frame 12. The band 21) is a regular loop spring band (as referred to in the trade), but it should be understood that it might also be an XL or superloop band.

As perhaps best seen in FIGURE 3, in the front torque inducing arrangement 25, the spring band 2%) is bent backwardly, as illustrated, about approximately the fifteenth linear segment a from the free front end 33 of the band 2% This rearwardly bent section of the band 20 is then bent forwardly once more about approximately the eighth linear segment 3%]; from the free end of the band 20. A generally U-shaped metal clip 35 is then clamped about the eighth linear segment 36b and approximately the twenty-second linear segment 30c of the spring band 20 to secure them together, as illustrated.

In profile then, the front torque-inducing arrangement 25 of the spring arrangement 11 includes overlapping spring band sections 40 and 41 secured together at 36b, 300 by the clamp 35 and integral at 39a. An outwardly and upwardly extending section 42 of the band 26 diverges from the sections 49, 41, in the direction of the front rail 16. In effect, the section 42 forms a diverging extension of the arc of the spring band 26 itself as it continues in modified profile from the back rail 17 toward the front rail 16, terminating in its free end 33. For approximately six inches of the overlapping sections 40 and 41, the spring is twice as stiff. This greatly affects the flexing of the remaining single strength, single layer of spring band 21 when acted upon by a subjects legs pressing down on the end section 42 at the free end 33, causing the spring band 26 to tend to be lifted at the junction clip 35, this lift being modified in the rear of the spring band by downward torque induced there.

As has been pointed out, the spring band 20 is secured to the front rail 16 by a fastening clip 21. The clip is preferably a conventional EK clip and encircles the linear segment 30a of the band, which is integral with both band sections 41 and 41. Nails 45 secure the EK clip to the upper surface of the front rail 16.

In the rear torque-inducing arrangement 26, the spring band 20 is bent downwardly as illustrated about the second linear segment 30x from the rearmost linear segment 30y. This inward bend defines an angle of approximately from the continuing arc of the band 20.

A variation of the rear torque-inducing arrangement 26 is illustrated in FIGURE 4 at 76. In the variation 76, the sinuous spring band is bent downwardly at its third linear segment 302 from the end linear segment 30y. The

downward bend is at approximately 60 to the continuing arc of the band, similarly to the torque-inducing arrangement 26 herenbefore discussed. The band 29 is bent back upwardly again at the second linear segment 30x from the end linear segment 30y so that the linear segments 30x and 36y and their interconnecting semi-circular loop 31 lie substantially in a plane parallel to the arcuate plane of the main portion of the band 20.

In the rear torque-inducing arrangement 76, the band 20 is connected to the back rail 17 of the frame .12 with a U-clip 77 and a helical spring 78 joined to an L-clip 79. The U-clip 77 encircles the end linear segment 36y of the spring band 20 and is connected to the helical spring 78. The helical spring 78 is, in turn, connected to the L-clip which is secured to the back rail 17 by conventional nails (not shown) or the like.

Another variation of the rear torque inducing arrangement 26 is illustrated in FIGURE 5 at 86. In the variation 86, a Z-hook 87 is formed facing downwardly and longitudinally from the last linear segment 30y in a band 11, similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 4. The helical spring 78 is then formed so that its inner hook 99 lies in a horizontal plane and hooks around the Z-hook 37.

As a person sits down on furniture inclusive of the spring assembly 10, for example, downward pressure is exerted on the spring band arrangements 11 adjacent their mid-points by the posterior of the person being seated. At the same time, the thighs of the person exert a downward pressure on the sinuous spring band section 42 of the front torque-inducing arrangement 25. This downward pressure on the band section 42 causes an upward torque to be developed in the spring band 20 at the linear segment 30b where it is secured by the clamp 35 to the linear segment 30c of the band. A dynamic interplay of these torque forces in the spring band, the one exerted upwardly well back into the body of the band 20 from the front rail 16, the other exerted downwardly adjacent the back rail 17 in the band 20, produced a heretofore unequaled resilience in the center of the spring band 20 of each spring arrangement 11 beneath the person seated.

Furthermore, when. the person arises from a furniture seat incorporating a spring assembly 10 including spring arrangements 11 embodying features of the present invention, the interplay of these torque forces produces a substantial upward thrust and, consequently, an assistance to the person arising. This is an added luxury feature afforded by the invention and heretofore found in such abundance only in coil spring furniture constructions. All the time, of course, the resilience of the band section 35 in the front torque-inducing arrangement 25 is providing a soft resilience underneath the knees and thighs of the seated person. Furthermore, the overall profile of the spring arrangement (see FIGURE 2) as produced by the torque-inducing arrangements 25 and 26, effects an attractive rearwardly inclined profile of the cushion (not shown) resting on the spring assembly 10.

When a rear torque-inducing arrangement of the type illustrated at 76 or 86 is used instead of the rear torqueinducing arrangement 26, increased resilience is provided adjacent the back rail 17 of the frame 12. The coil spring 78 coupled with the elongated double-angled torque arm between the linear segments 302 and 30y of the spring band 20 effect such increased resilience. Furthermore, the elongated torque arm referred to actually increases the torque exerted at the rear of the spring band 20 and adds to the overall resilience of the spring arrangement 11. The rear torque-inducing arrangements 76 and 86 are, however, slightly more expensive constructions than the rear torque-inducing arrangement 26.

As previously pointed out, a second form of spring ar rangement embodying features of the present invention is illustrated at 111 in FIGURES 6 and 7. The spring arrangement 111 differs from the spring arrangement 11 hereinbefore discussed in the construction of both its front torque inducing arrangement, identified generally at 125, and its rear torque inducing arrangement, identified generally at 126. The only significant modification in result is provided by the front torque inducing arrangement 125, however, which affords added resilience and upward thrust while accommodating even over-stuffed cushions, for example, without unsightly cushion gap.

Referring to FIGURE 7, in the front torque inducing arrangement the spring band 20 is bent backwardly, as illustrated, about approximately the fifteenth linear segment a from the free front end 133 of the band 20. This rearwardly bent section is then bent forwardly about approximately the eighth linear segment 13% from the free end 133. A generally U-shaped clip 135 is clipped about the linear segment 130k and approximately the twenty-second linear segment 1300 of the spring band 20 to secure them together.

The overlapping spring band sections and 141 are then bent approximately 30 to 35 inwardly of the normal arc of the spring band 20 in relaxed relationship (not shown). The result is a spring band 20 which, when mounted, has a substantially flattened portion 136 in profile extending rearwardly of the clip 135, and a slightly more arcuate rear portion 137 terminating at the rear torque inducing arrangement 126.

The uppermost spring band section 142 substantially continues the relatively fiat arc of the bulk of the band 20 and is bent upwardly adjacent its free end 133, as illustrated at 143. The relatively fiat arc profile of the band 20 (and band section 142) obviates the necessity of padding depressions on the top of the spring arrangement 11 and substantially prevents cushion gap; in cooperation with the upwardly bent end portion 143 of the band section 142.

Because of the downwardly bent sections 149 and 141 bringing the juncture point (clip 135) up higher and closer to the front rail 16, increased uplift is efiected in the bulk of the spring band 213 by the weight of a persons thighs bearing down on the end band section 142. Accordingly, enhanced resilience and upward thrust is provided.

The spring arrangement 111 further differs from the spring arrangement 11 hereinbefore discussed in the construction of its rear torque inducing arrangement 126 as pointed out. The rear torque inducing arrangement 126 includes a torque member 218 having a downwardly extending lip 129 at its inner end and a downwardly inclined clamp 130 at its outer end. The member 128 is formed of strip steel or the like and has a shoulder 135 formed in its body section 136 adjacent the lip 129 and two sets of ears 137 formed in its body section 136, as illustrated.

The lip 129 of the bar 128 is adapted to overlie one of the linear sections 30 of the spring band 26, in the case illustrated the linear segment Zafim displaced three linear segments from the end-most linear segment 3011. The linear segments 30p and 3dr, as well as the end linear segment 3022, then overlie the body section 136 of the member 128 and its ramp 138' is secured to the back rail 17 by a helical spring 151) and an L-clip 151. An aperture 152 is formed in the ramp 130 for receiving one end of the helical spring 1513 and a corresponding aperture 154 is formed in the L-clip 151. The clip 151 is secured to the rail 17 by nails (not shown) or the like.

It will be seen that the rear torque-inducing arrangement 126 exerts a downward torque at the rear end of the spring band 20 in a manner broadly similar to the rear torque-inducing arrangement 26, 76, and 86 hereinbefore discussed. The linear segment 30;; is retained behind the shoulder 135 of the member 128 in assembled relationship, as will be recognized, and one set of the ears 137 retains the end linear segment 31in. Thus it is impossible for the bar 128 to he twisted off of the spring band 20. At the same time, the bar might be secured to the spring band 20 in alternative positions with the lip 124 overlying the fourth linear segment 30m, the third or second linear segments 30p or 301', or even a fifth linear segment 30s. This provides a varied amount of torquing, of course, the details of which form no specific part of the present invention.

In the spring arrangement 111, the downward torque exerted by the rear torque inducing arrangement 126 and the upward torque exerted by the front torque-inducing arrangement 125 provide the same basic dynamic interplay of torque forces which produce the resilience hereinbefore discussed in relation to the spring arrangement 11 embodying the first form of the present invention. Furthermore, the spring arrangement 111 also produces the additional upward thrust characteristic of the present invention as a seated person arises from a furniture seat,

for example. No unsightly cushion gap and an attractive rearward incline in slim-line furniture are also provided by the spring arrangement 111.

While several embodiments described herein are at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A spring arrangement for a spring assembly including a front rail and a back rail, comprising: a sinuous spring band disposed between the front rail and the back rail, front torque inducing means on said band connected to the front rail, rear torque inducing means on said band connected to the back rail, said rear torque inducing means exerting a downward torque in said band adjacent the back rail, said front torque inducing means exerting an upward torque in the body of said band at a predetermined substantial distance from the front rail, said front torque inducing means including a portion of said spring band bent toward said back rail about a first linear segment secured to said front rail, a second linear segment in said portion secured to a third linear segment in the body of said spring band at said predetermined distance from said front rail, a freely extending section of said band portion being bent toward said front rail about said second linear segment, said spring band body and portion between said first and second linear segments being bent downwardly from the rest of the body of said band about said second linear segment so that the front area of the arc of said body is substantially flattened, and the rear area of the arc of said body is maintained substantially arced, said freely extending section diverging from said band body and portion between said first and second linear segments and extending in approximately the same substantially flat are as the front area of said body, said upward and downward torques developing a dynamic interplay of forces in the body of said band to provide superior resilience when a subject is seated on said spring arrangement and upward thrust as the subject arises.

2. The spring arrangment of claim 1 further characterized in that said freely extending section has an upwardly inclined short free end which obviates a gap between the spring band and a cushion which it supports.

3. The spring arrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that said rear torque inducing means comprises a separate torque member extending at least three linear segments into the body of said spring band.

4. The spring arrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that said rear torque inducing means is connected to said outer rail by helical spring means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,646,108 7/1953 Norman 267-1 2,800,167 7/1957 Winkler 267l X 3,096,086 7/1963 Krakauer 267l03 3,098,646 7/1963 Knabusch et a1. 267ll2 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SPRING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPRING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A FRONT RAIL AND A BACK RAIL, COMPRISING: A SINUOUS SPRING BAND DISPOSED BETWEEN THE FRONT RAIL AND THE BACK RAIL, FRONT TORQUE INDUCING MEANS ON SAID BAND CONNECTED TO THE FRONT RAIL, REAR TORQUE INDUCING MEANS ON SAID BAND CONNECTED TO THE BACK RAIL, SAID REAR TORQUE INDUCING MEANS EXERTING A DOWNWARD TORQUE IN SAID BAND ADJACENT THE BACK RAIL, SAID FRONT TORQUE INDUCING MEANS EXERTING AN UPWARD TORQUE IN THE BODY OF SAID BAND AT A PREDETERMINED SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE FRONT RAIL, SAID FRONT TORQUE INDUCING MEANS INCLUDING A PORTION OF SAID SPRING BAND BENT TOWARD SAID BACK RAIL ABOUT A FIRST LINEAR SEGMENT SECURED TO SAID FRONT RAIL, A SECOND LINEAR SEGMENT IN SAID PORTION SECURED TO A THIRD LINEAR SEGMENT IN THE BODY OF SAID SPRING BAND AT SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID FRONT RAIL, A FREELY EXTENDING SECTION OF SAID BAND PORTION BEING BENT TOWARD SAID FRONT RAIL ABOUT SAID SECOND LINEAR SEGMENT, SAID SPRING BAND BODY AND PORTION BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINEAR SEGMENTS BEING BENT DOWNWARDLY FROM THE REST OF THE BODY OF SAID BAND ABOUT SAID SECOND LINEAR SEGMENT SO THAT THE FRONT AREA OF THE ARC OF SAID BODY IS SUBSTANTIALLY FLATTENED, AND THE REAR AREA OF THE ARC OF SAID BODY IS MAINTAINED SUBSTANTIALLY ARCED, SAID FREELY EXTENDING SECTION DIVERGING FROM SAID BAND BODY AND PORTION BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINEAR SEGMENTS AND EXTENDING IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ARC AS THE FRONT AREA OF SAID BODY, SAID UPWARD AND DOWNWARD TORQUES DEVELOPING A DYNAMIC INTERPLAY OF FORCES IN THE BODY OF SAID BAND TO PROVIDE SUPERIOR RESILIENCE WHEN A SUBJECT IS SEATED ON SAID SPRING ARRANGEMENT AND UPWARD THRUST AS THE SUBJECT ARISES. 